So if I am making a 5 gallon batch, as long as I seal the bucket with a lid and air lock, I can let it sit just as I let beer sit?

Just not trying to buy a 5 gallon glass carboy if I don't need too. I use straight buckets for brewing beer.

You can use the bucket for primary (5-7 days) and then after that the wine must be racked to a carboy or demijohn, to reduce the headspace. A bucket simply is too wide and the headspace is too much as a result. Not only does the wine need to go into a carboy, it needs to be topped up as well so there is almost no headspace at all.

You can make small batches, or separate the batch, to use those Carlo Rossi wine jugs (4 L size), as they take a #6 stopper and airlock just fine!

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